In the days since Danica Patrick posted the fastest qualifying time and became the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole, racing fans and analysts have been buzzing about the pros and cons of starting the big race at the front.

One potential downside is the extra pressure on the pole sitter to have a good start and stay in front when the race gets underway.

If the green flag falls and Patrick immediately fades into the pack, it could be the result of a misfiring engine, suspension malady or a deflating tire. But critics might conclude the fast qualifying time was a fluke, or that she can’t run quickly in traffic.

Could it be better to start a few rows back on the grid and work your way to the lead? That’s how many eventual winners have started the race.

Not many Daytona 500 pole sitters have gone on to win the same race. Dale Jarrett was the last one to pull it off in 2000. Jeff Gordon did it the year before that, but from there you have to go back to 1987, when lightning-fast Bill Elliott won pole, the race and set an all-time track record of just over 210 mph.

Still, pole seems to carry more weight if you look beyond tomorrow’s contest. Many drivers who won the Daytona 500 pole but not the race, including Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson and Bobby Labonte, wound up with Cup championships on their resumes. Others like Ricky Rudd and Donnie Allison became respected and beloved staples of Nascar lore.

Let’s face it: Being on pole for “The 500″ means a driver is fast, smooth and has a feel for the car, and it tends to put racers on the track to legend status. Just look at the list, which includes Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt and Gordon. Some pole winners still have some of us scratching our heads (Loy Allen Jr. and Ramo Stott come to mind). But often it is an indication a driver will be a long-term contender.

After last Sunday’s convincing pole, Patrick seems more likely to join Nascar’s alpha drivers than the also-rans.